MEGHAN MCCAIN: Blond-bouffant egomaniac Trump is running scared from tomorrow’s TV debate. So ask yourself: Do we really want a coward leading the greatest country on Earth?

Call it cowardice. Call it hubris. Call it cynicism.

But whatever you do, call it out.

The stage is set for the first Republican primary debate and the frontrunner for the nomination won’t even be there.

It’s a pathetic cop out, but not a shock.

Donald Trump’s approach to politics is simple: seriously engage no one, mock and insult, assume victory and, if you lose, insist that you’ve been robbed.

‘Why would I allow people at one or two percent and zero percent to be hitting me with questions all night?’ Trump asked Fox News’ host Bret Baier, who will be moderating Wednesday night.

After all, Trump leads Ron DeSantis, his closest competitor, by 40 percentage points, according to the latest Real Clear Politics average of national polling.

Why would he risk his lead?

Because, Don, this is not all about you!

The primary is a contest, not a coronation. You’re not owed the nomination, let alone the presidency.

You should have learned that lesson in 2020 when you lost to President Biden by millions and millions of votes, or in the 2022 midterms when nearly every single Trump-endorsed Senate candidate lost and frittered away Republican-control of Congress.

The stage is set for the first Republican primary debate and the frontrunner for the nomination won’t even be there. It’s a pathetic cop out, but not a shock.

After all, Trump leads Ron DeSantis, his closest competitor, by 40 percentage points, according to the latest Real Clear Politics average of national polling.

What exactly is the point of a Republican primary debate if Trump skips it?

For that matter, what is the point of the Republican National Committee, which hosts these debates, if it can’t compel the leading candidate to spare a few hours to participate?

This is the same organization which demands candidates sign a pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee.

Who cares about the silly pledge?

If the purpose of the RNC is to unify the Republican party, shouldn’t they at least demand that every candidate participate? Or does the RNC have so little respect for voters that they’d allow the primary to be reduced to a dick-swinging contest? Nothing more than a sideshow?

A presidential candidate should be more than a stringy, blond bouffant and an ego.

The debates are the best format for showcasing candidates’ competency, health and ability to win.

Trump is 77 years old and not immune to the issues that dog sleepy, stumbly Joe.

Is Trump still up for this job? Frankly, we don’t know.

I, for one, would like to see him in action if he is to face off against Biden again.

Don’t forget that even tongue-tied Joe absolutely trounced Trump in their first presidential debate in 2020.

And if Biden, drops out of the 2024 race, which I’d say is about 50/50 at this point, how would Trump do against California’s slick and savvy Gavin Newsom?

Not well, I’d guess.

Governor Chris Christie says Trump lacks ‘the guts to show up.’ He’s right. A debate exposes weakness.

Remember former Texas Governor Rick Perry’s infamous ‘oops’ moment in 2011 when he blanked on the specific government agencies that he would eliminate.

In 2019, Kamala Harris was absolutely fileted by Tulsi Gabbard over her record on criminal justice reform. Harris couldn’t muster a coherent answer and dropped out of the race two months before the Iowa Caucuses.

The presidential debates are also the single most significant opportunity for the American people to engage with the body politic.

Remember former Texas Governor Rick Perry’s  (above left) infamous ‘oops’ moment in 2011 when he blanked on the specific government agencies that he would eliminate.

Don’t forget that even tongue-tied Joe absolutely trounced Trump in their first presidential debate in 2020.

If Trump truly believes that Communist China is a threat to America’s future, then now’s the time to rally the public to the cause. Want to explain to Americans why free market capitalism is superior to the creeping socialism infecting society?

The stage is yours, Donald. But he’s a no show.

Moreover, Trump is not only content to skip the debate, he’s also intent on undermining it.

The King of Counterprogramming will appear Wednesday in a pre-taped interview with ex-Fox Newser Tucker Carlson on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Trump also floated calling into other networks during the debate and live posting on Truth Social to pull viewers away from their TV screens.

In the ultimate act of diversion, he’s supposedly planning to turn himself in to Georgia authorities on Thursday morning to face racketeering charges related to his stolen election hoax.

That’ll surely suffocate the debate coverage and prevent the American people from learning anything useful about their candidates or the country.

It’s the equivalent of a whiney playground loser taking his ball and going home.

If there is any silver lining here it is that this may all blow up in Trump’s face.

A new CBS News poll shows that 73 percent of GOP primary voters say he should participate in the debate. That means even his own supporters think he should show up.

And Trump has blown it before.

Governor Chris Christie (above) says Trump lacks ‘the guts to show up.’ He’s right. A debate exposes weakness.

Trump is 77 years old and not immune to the issues that dog sleepy, stumbly Joe.

In 2016, Trump, upset over real questions from real journalists, decided to skip the final GOP primary debate before the Iowa caucuses. He went on to lose to Senator Ted Cruz.

This debate would also an opportunity for him to put away Governor DeSantis for good. An impressive showing Wednesday night could give Ron the shot in the arm his campaign needs.

Perhaps, Trump’s worst miscalculation of all is that by skipping the debate he is helping the Democrats and Joe Biden.

Biden, who infamously campaigned from his basement in 2020, may just decide to do the same in 2024. What if he refuses to publicly debate, because of some perceived lead in the polling?

At the end of the day, the American people will suffer. We’ll lose out on the chance to forge national consensus, hear out our political opponents, and appreciate the miracle of self-government.

Depressingly, 77 percent of Americans now expect the nation to be even more politically divided in 2050.

No big surprise.

Yes, Trump is playing a dangerous game with the future of the country. This is yet another blow to the institutions that hold us together and a wedge driving us apart.

Now it’s up to the people to decide: Do we really want a coward leading the greatest country in the history of the world?

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